OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has expressed serious concerns over the upcoming release of GPT-5, calling its capabilities overwhelming and likening the project to the Manhattan Project, the effort that led to the creation of the atomic bomb. Speaking on a podcast, Altman revealed that GPT-5 left him feeling “useless” after it solved a complex problem he could not. He described the moment as a “personal crisis of relevance,” highlighting the growing gap between human and artificial intelligence.
Altman’s comments reflect deep unease not only about the model’s intelligence but also about the larger implications of its development. “There are moments in science when people look at what they have created and ask, ‘What have we done?’” he said, suggesting GPT-5 could be one of those moments. The comparison with the Manhattan Project signals the magnitude of concern even within OpenAI’s leadership about where this technology could lead.
The upcoming model reportedly offers major advances over GPT-4, including stronger multimodal reasoning, longer memory, and more accurate multi-step logic. Altman even dismissed GPT-4 in hindsight, calling it “the dumbest model any of you will ever have to use again, by a lot.”
However, alongside excitement comes fear. There is growing anxiety that artificial intelligence may be evolving faster than the ability to regulate or fully understand it. Altman warned that AI is now entering territory that challenges human identity, control, and governance. Without a global regulatory framework, the risks may outweigh the benefits.
Adding to the tension is pressure from investors and Microsoft, which has invested $13.5 billion in OpenAI. Reports suggest OpenAI could declare artificial general intelligence early, possibly to adjust its partnership terms or accelerate profit-making strategies. Meanwhile, companies are racing to deploy enterprise AI tools as competition grows.
On the darker side, experts warn that criminals are already using generative AI to automate fraud at scale. Millions are being lost weekly as outdated systems struggle to keep up. “Right now, criminals are using it better than we are,” said an expert in digital risk.
Altman’s rare moment of honesty paints a sobering picture of the future. GPT-5 may be a technical breakthrough, but it is also a stark reminder that we may be building tools we are not fully prepared to control.
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